Two young sisters who claimed they were subject to a vicious and unprovoked assault by gardaí on Dublin’s Grafton Street received an apology and undisclosed damages at the High Court today.
While walking with friends up Grafton Street about 1.30 a.m. on April 25th 1998, Grainne and Ciara Walsh claimed they were assaulted after Grainne sought to prevent an unmarked Garda car reversing into them.
They claimed they were thrown forcefully into the back of a Garda van, assaulted, brought to a Garda station and detained in locked cells before being released without charge. They alleged gardaí then brought a malicious prosecution against them which was subsequently dismissed by the District Court.
Grainne (34), a freelance fashion designer, of Delwood Lawn, Castleknock, and Ciara (33), currently working as a fashion designer in New York, had sued the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the State over the incident.
Their cases were listed for today but Ms Siun Leonowicz and Mr John Quirke, for both women, told the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, the actions had been settled. Both counsel told the court the defendants had said they "regret very much what had happened" and acknowledged both women were of "unblemished character". A sum of money had been paid in settlement of both cases, the judge was also told.
Mr Justice Finnegan said he was noting what was said and struck out the proceedings with an order for costs to both women.
